Local groups make short-term rental requests

The effort to revise the Riverside County short-term rental ordinance (927) has strengthened in the past two weeks. The board of supervisors took action to fortify the possible changes with specific attention to enforcement. Locally, the Idyllwild Association of Realtors has expressed to Supervisor Chuck Washington (3rd District) their preferences for changes after a group of citizens concerned about STRs spoke at a recent IAOR meeting.

At the board of supervisors’ Sept. 14 meeting, Washington and Supervisor Kevin Jeffries (1st District) asked their colleagues to agree with instructing the county’s Executive Office to develop within the next 60 days a strategy and budget for increased Code Enforcement staffing on evenings and weekends.

The proposal was approved unanimously as part of the consent calendar without needing any discussion.

Also last week, the IAOR membership agreed with four local citizen recommendations about the future oversight of STRs: more effective on-site inspections of STR facilities; higher certificate and renewal fees, as well as stronger fines for code violations; a formal online complaint process; and stronger enforcement of the noise ordinance.

“I’ve sent a letter with these four recommendations to Supervisor Washington,” Karen Doshier, IAOR president, confirmed. She is planning to send another to either the Planning Department or Code Enforcement.

Doshier confirmed that IAOR did not support a fifth recommendation to limit STRs to 10% of total houses on the Hill or limiting individuals to ownership of just one STR.

Idyllwild Realtor Grace Reed expressed concern about this proposal. “It’s a double-edged sword. [Some new buyers] come to Idyllwild to make money, the registration fee is so low, and they have no experience in rentals.

“My job is to educate them. You’re in a small and quiet community. Please respect your neighbors,” she continued. “We welcome people coming, but they need to respect and enjoy our tranquility.”

Peter Szabadi, a member of separate, ad hoc group, within 60 days recently wrote the county recommending a “limit on the number of permits issued” and a “gradual reduction of the already issued permits,” and a limit on the number of STRs for each permit.

In order to evaluate this proposal, “We need to see the true number of rentals,” Reed explained.

The ad hoc group has no identifying name. Terry Shirley, also a group member said, “It’s just a group of concerned citizens wanting to make sure the Hill quality of life continues to provide residents and visitors alike a community that enables each of us to enjoy this beautiful mountain.”

Explaining their proposal, Washington’s and Jeffries’ directive to the Executive Office is intended to increase the efficacy of on-site inspections and the enforcement of the county noise ordinance (847). More effective inspections should ensure adequate available parking and occupancy limitations, as well as compliance with fire and water regulations.

Expanding the availability of enforcement is needed because neighbor’s issues with most STRs occur on weekends and evenings. Currently, Code Enforcement staff is normally available weekdays till about 5 p.m.

The board favors enlarging Code Enforcement staff on evenings and weekends to enable a quicker response “… to unpermitted activities while they are happening, rather than having to wait until the next Monday morning to investigate complaints about events and activities that have long since ended.”

The supervisors also recommended a balance between more full-time staffing every evening versus focusing on those evenings with the highest call volumes.

In their memorandum, the authors acknowledged the June grand jury recommendation to increase Code Enforcement staffing and recognized this was a step in that direction.

A revised draft Ordinance 927 is expected this fall, which is why the supervisors asked the Executive Officer to respond within 60 days.